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Let’s Talk About Some Root Canal Basics

April 20, 2011

Filed under: Blog,Your Appearance,Your Comfort,Your Health — Tags: 30642 family dentistry, basics of root canal, cosmetic dentist greensboro, Dr. David Bradley, Dr. Patti Bradley, Dr. Phil Boswell, Lake Oconee Dentist, Oral Health, root canal — @ 5:16 am

IF YOU’RE LIKE SOME OF DRS. BRADLEY AND DR. BOSWELL’SPATIENTS HERE IN LAKE OCONEE DENTISTRY, PC, you may have heard rumors that root canal therapy is painful and/or difficult. However, surveys continue to show that most people’s dental procedure fears are more about “perception” than they are about “reality”.The sad thing is that inaccurate information about root canals (and other dental procedures) can cause people to make uninformed—and often unwise—decisions that can cause additional expense, hassle, and unneccesary damage to their teeth, their oral health, and possibly their overall health. So, before you believe any rumors or hype, we thought we’d help clear up the top five myths about root canal therapy.

MYTH #1: Root Canal Treatments Are Painful

Typically, it isn’t that the actual root canal treatment is painful—rather, the irreversible condition that is requiring the treatment is far from comfortable in the first place! Most people who have root canal therapy admit that the pain they experienced was prior to the procedure, not during it… And, they felt so much better after.

MYTH #2: Root Canals Always Require Several Appointments

Typically, a root canal treatment can be completed in as few as one or two visits with any one of our dentists. Some cases require a tooth to be restored after the root canal is completed, but these appointments are not part of the actual root canal process.

If you are already scheduled for root canal therapy with our dentists, and if you’re experiencing discomfort, here are a few ideas from our friends at eHow:

MYTH #3: Root Canal Therapy Leads to Illnesses

This myth stems from some research that is 100 years old—and, has NEVER been duplicated or confirmed through modern research. That is, the bacteria that may be present from doing the root canal procedure can somehow make you sick after your root canal therapy. The fact is that all kinds of bacteria can be found in your mouth at any time, even if you don’t have decaying teeth, gum disease, or an upcoming root canal treatment. This myth truly is just that—a myth you don’t need to worry about.

MYTH #4: Root Canal Therapy Isn’t Necessary Until Your Tooth Hurts

Teeth in need of root canal therapy don’t always hurt. In fact, some dead teeth may just require a root canal to prevent infection. You may have a tooth in need of a root canal and not even know it.

MYTH #5: The Benefits of Root Canal Therapy Don’t Last Long

This fifth myth probably starts with people who have had a tooth crack at some point after having had a root canal treatment. While it’s true that when a nerve is removed from a tooth, the blood supply is eliminated and the tooth can become brittle—making it more fragile and susceptible to cracking. Technically, this means that although the complete restoration solution may need to be examined, it doesn’t mean that root canal therapy doesn’t “last”. Often, our dentists will recommend having a crown placed over your tooth to prevent this from being an issue.

Well, there you go…the top five myths about root canal therapy shattered right before your eyes! We hope that you now feel a little less fearful of root canals, and much more informed.

If you have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to contact us or connect with us via our Facebook Page. Thank you for being our valued patients and friends!

Be sure to “Like” our Facebook page for offers and promotions by clicking on the image below:

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Can You Chew Gum And Help Your Teeth At The Same Time?

April 4, 2011

Filed under: Blog,Your Comfort,Your Health — Tags: chewing gum, cosmetic dentist greensboro, Dr. David Bradley, Dr. Patti Bradley, Dr. Phil Boswell, Lake Oconee Dentist, Lake Oconee family dentistry, Oral Health, pros and cons of chewing gum — @ 3:10 pm

DO YOU LOVE CHEWING GUM?Do you like to chew gum because it helps keep your breath fresh? Do you chew gum to relieve stress? Is it just a long-standing habit? If you’re like many of us here at the Lake Oconee Dentistry, PC, gum is a “necessity” that some of us have a hard time going without! Dr. Patti Bradley says, “In fact, ever since Thomas Adams invented chewing gum back in 1870, it’s been one of the most common breath stabilizers around.”

So… How is all this gum chewing effecting our teeth?

Good news! Chewing gum can actually help fight cavities! In fact, Drs. Bradley and team actually recommend it! The act of chewing gum stimulates the production of saliva, which is a natural buffering and cleaning agent that kills cavity producing acids. In addition, a recent study shows that for those who do not naturally produce a sufficient amount of salivary flow on their own, chewing a piece of gum for 10 minutes each waking hour for about two weeks can help remedy the problem.

Gum is also a great agent in fighting plaque.

Plaque is one of the main cavities and periodontal disease contributors. The University of the Pacific School of Dentistry conducted an 8-week study where volunteers chewed BreathAssure Dental gum for 20 minutes a day while a control group chewed a placebo gum for the same amount of time. All test subjects practiced proper brushing and flossing techniques. The results of the study showed that BreathAssure reduced the accumulation of dental plaque by 35%.

Some types of gum can also contain beneficial artificial sweeteners such as Xylitol, which has been found to inhibit bacterial growth and perhaps even reverse small lesions. However, in order to truly benefit from the Xylitol in gum you need to chew two pieces 3–5 times daily for at least five minutes at a time.

So what’s the catch?

Yes, you guessed it… There’s always a catch, right? Here it is. Brands of gum containing sugar can be harmful to your teeth if they’re chewed too often or taken out of your mouth too soon. If you prefer gum containing natural sugar rather than artificial sweeteners, chew it for at least 15–20 minutes so that your saliva can rinse away the sugar residue once you’ve chewed out all the sugar.

Of course, whether or not you decide to chew gum is your decision—however, if you DO chew it, Dr. David Bradley strongly recommends choosing a sugarless gum.

If you’re susceptible to TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder, or other face/jaw pain, the disadvantages of chewing gum may outweigh the benefits.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact us or connect with us on Facebook by clicking on the logo below:

We look forward to hearing from you soon! Happy chewing!

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Drs. Bradley Talk About Gum Disease

March 26, 2011

Filed under: Blog,Your Appearance,Your Comfort — Tags: cosmetic dentist greensboro, Dr. David Bradley, Dr. Patti Bradley, Dr. Phil Boswell, Greensboro Dentist, Gum disease, Oral Health — @ 4:13 pm

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ADVISED TO WATCH FOR SIGNS OF GUM DISEASE? Chances are, if you’ve ever visited a dentist, you’ve been checked—to some extent—for symptoms of this problem. Here at our practice, for many of our patients, a routine check typically reveals healthy, disease-free gums. We’re glad for that… But sometimes people with healthy gums forget that it’s still important to regularly look for early signs of a problem.

Dr. Patti Bradley suggests, “If you have early signs of gum disease, the best thing that can be done is to take care of it before it gets out of hand.” For many of you that may mean being well informed about gum disease, including symptoms to watch for.

As the video below outlines, gum disease can be divided into three stages, which can range from a simple amount of gum inflammation to major tissue damage and tooth loss. It’s been said before, but as a reminder, the sooner periodontal disease is caught the more we can do to successfully reverse the effects.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms as listed below, and outlined in the video, be sure to have any of our doctors take a look:

Gums bleed easily while flossing or brushing
Swollen, red or tender gums
Receding or separated gums that are exposing teeth
Changes in how your teeth fit together
Constant bad breath or unpleasant taste in your mouth

Of course, never having gum disease is the best scenario.

Because gum disease starts with bacteria in the plaque on your teeth, paying close attention to your oral hygiene is your greatest defense. This includes your daily care—thorough brushing and regular flossing, as well as your regular checkups. If plaque hardens to your teeth, only a dental cleaning can completely remove it and stop gum disease from starting.

We want to keep you informed and healthy with information on many aspects of your oral health.

We invite you to contact our office or join us on Facebook. Liking our Facebook page gives you access to discussions on our wall about your oral health, as well as updates about current promotions in our office. Click below:

We look forward to seeing you during your next visit!

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